U.S. stock futures climbed on Wednesday after a favorable antitrust ruling spared Google from facing sweeping restrictions on its Chrome browser, fueling optimism among investors and lifting technology shares.
As of early morning trading, S&P 500 futures were up about 0.4%, while Nasdaq-100 futures gained around 0.6%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged slightly lower, reflecting weakness in non-tech sectors.
The rebound came after a U.S. court decision ruled against imposing tougher penalties on Alphabet’s Google in a long-running antitrust case.
The ruling was interpreted as a major win for the tech giant, allowing it to retain core elements of its search and browser business.
Alphabet shares surged nearly 6% in pre-market trading, providing a significant boost to the broader tech sector.
Apple shares also ticked higher following the ruling, contributing to the Nasdaq’s gains. The tech-heavy index has been particularly sensitive to regulatory headlines, with investors weighing the risk of tighter oversight on Big Tech.
Meanwhile, broader market sentiment remained cautious ahead of fresh U.S. economic data. Investors are awaiting the latest jobs report, due later this week, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook on interest rates.
Rising Treasury yields and ongoing uncertainty over U.S. trade tariffs continue to add pressure on equities.
“Google’s legal reprieve has removed a major overhang for tech investors,” one market strategist noted. “However, markets are still balancing optimism in technology with broader concerns over tariffs and economic growth.”
For now, Wall Street appears to be breathing a sigh of relief, with tech giants leading the charge and keeping futures in positive territory.
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